Description Level

Item

Creator

Anne Campbell

Physical Description

2.0 x 66.0 x 25.5 textual record

History Biographical

"Anne Campbell, 16 June 1912, was born in Sutherland, Saskatchewan, now a part of Saskatoon. Her parents were John and Thomasina Cowie, Scottish immigrants. Mrs. Cowie sang in St. Paul's United Church Choir and Mr. Cowie sang at home. Anne began singing at age eight, and by age 14 she was conducting the Junior Choir of St. Paul's United Church in Sutherland. In Saskatoon, Anne studied piano with Lyle Gustin and voice F.B. Morrison. She also studied with Dr. Ernest Vinci of Toronto. Mr. Gustin encouraged Anne to take music courses at St. Andrew's College, University of Saskatchewan. Anne eventually earned an A.R.C.T. from the Toronto Conservatory of Music, as well as an A. MUS (Associate in Music) and L. MUS (Licenciate in Music), both in piano. In 1939 Anne married Don Campbell at Westminster United Church in Saskatoon. After they were married, the Campbells moved to Calgary so that Don could begin a job as a traveling salesman with Marshall Wells Hardware. Their sons Mac and Stewart were born in Calgary, in 1943 and 1947 respectively. After 1947 Don became manager of the Hyde and Sundal Hardware Store in Picture Butte. Don eventually bought the store, changed its name to Campbell Hardware and was in business for 31.5 years. Southminster United Church asked Anne to form and all girls youth choir in 1953, and the Campbells moved to Lethbridge. The Choir accepted girls from all over Southern Alberta. The Junior Choir sang at church services once a month, and performed operettas in the Southminster Church hall. In 1964 Anne formed the Teen Clefs, a 20 member Chamber Choir with girls of High School age. In 1967 Anne was invited to take the group to Montreal for a performance at EXPO 67. In 1968, the Anne Campbell Singers were formed. The Choir went to the United Kingdom that year to compete at the Teeside International Eisteddfod in Yorkshire, England and the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod in Wales. Until the early 1990s the Choir continued to travel throughout Canada and overseas, and successfully competed in many music festivals. The United Kingdom, Denmark, Belgium, Austria and Japan were among the countries visited by the Anne Campbell Singers. As girls from the Junior Choir and Anne Campbell Singers grew older, Anne formed the Linnet Singers so that those who wished could continue in a choir. The Linnet Singers also traveled and competed extensively. Anne created the Mini Choir as a training group for girls six to eight years old. Some former members of Anne's Choirs have established successful careers in music as teachers, choir leaders and opera singers. Anne Campbell has received more than a dozen awards for her contributions to choral music in Canada, including the Order of Canada in 1977 and Honourary Doctor of Laws Degrees from the University of Lethbridge in 1983. Anne's Choirs have won more than 20 awards in national and international competitions. The Choirs recorded 14 albums, and were broadcast many times by the CBC and CKUA Radio. The girls sang many types of music: madrigals, folk songs, sacred music and show tunes. They sang at various times in English, Japanese, German and French. In the mid 1990s Anne Campbell retired from active involvement with the choirs. in 1999 she moved to Cochrane, AB to live near her son Stewart and his family."

Scope and Content

Certificate of Achievement. Certificate reads "Presented to Anne Campbell Singers in Recognition of Services Rendered to Canada during the Canadian Participation Japan World Exposition Osaka 1970...Patrick Reid Commissioner General". Certificate is written in both French and English.

Accession No.

P20000018059

Collection

Archive

Less detail